I see Jesus all the time. I saw Him today. in the Bible. He was
teaching and preaching. He was healing the sick and raising the dead.
He was loving people and forgiving them of their sins. He was
performing miracles. He was leading his followers into a new way of
life. What did He look like? Like a little baby in a manger surrounded
by barn animals. Like a shepherd leading a flock of sheep. Like a crazy
person, speaking about things that cannot be seen or proven. Like a
criminal, beaten and insulted, hanging on a cross. like an angel or God
Himself, shining and pure, resurrected from the dead.
I see
Jesus at church each Sunday. He’s in the midst of us as we gather in
His name. He’s in the reason we gather as a community. He is the
message that is preached and the words of Truth that are spoken. He’s
in the people with disabilities and the workers who bring them. He’s in
the laughter and the playfulness of the children who realize that
church isn’t just about sitting in a pew. He dances and sings with us
as we praise Him with our songs. He has His hand of healing on those
who are in need of comfort and freedom. He meets with people in the
middle of their pain. He is in the joy of those who are going through
good times and are excited about life. He speaks words of life and
encouragement and promise to individuals who hear Him. And it turns out
that Jesus isn’t only found in the particular church congregation I am
a part of. He’s actually the biggest church-hopper and is a part of
every congregation that invites Him.
I see Jesus in other places–seemingly unexpected places. For example,
He hangs out in the same places I hang out in every day. He looks like
my server at the coffee shop who goes beyond the call of duty to
sincerely care about me and ask me how I am doing. He looks like my
waiter at Denny’s who takes the time to sit down at my table and talk
with me. Another example is a new friend I made this year. At the time
she was not yet a Christian. but as we talked, I realized that she
thought and acted more like Jesus than a lot of Christians I knew.
Jesus was in the way she lived. I passed by a homeless person on the
street one day. He asked me if I had any money to give. I said that I
didn’t, which was a lie. I simply didn’t feel like parting with the
change in my wallet (I wanted to spend it on a drink later on at the
coffee shop). As I walked back home I remembered the words of Jesus in
Matthew 25. Whatever I do unto the least of these, I do unto Him. And
whatever I don’t do unto the least of these, I don’t do unto Him. I
wept as I realized I had passed Jesus by. I felt like the least-no, the
worst-of these.
I see Jesus when I close my eyes. His Spirit is inside of me and He
walks with me throughout each day. This is particularly exciting
because I can talk to Him wherever I am and whenever I want. And He’s
there when I open my eyes and look at what and who is around me. He’s
in my friends and family, He’s in nature. He’s everywhere! I just pray
that I will always be aware of His presence and not pass Him by. And I
pray that everyone else will see Him, too.